Swindon

Swindon's population expanded in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, ethnicity and health.

The population passed 200,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Swindon increased by 16%, from about 180,000 to 209,000.

The addition of just over 29,000 people means this area's population was the fastest-growing in the South West and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Swindon was home to, on average, 6.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

Census 2011 data also show a housing tenure change in Swindon.

The percentage of households in Swindon that rented privately increased from 7.5% in 2001 to 16% in 2011.

In 2011, just under one in six (16%) households lived in social housing, compared with 17% in 2001. The percentage of Swindon households that owner their home decreased from 73% to 66%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11% in 2001 to 17% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Swindon increased by 8.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Swindon, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Swindon

The number of people in Swindon from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 170,000 in 2001 to about 190,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 95% to 90%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South West (from 98% to 95%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Swindon from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 4,600 in 2001 to about 13,000 in 2011 (from 2.6% to 6.4%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 2,000 to just over 4,200 (from 1.1% to 2.0%).

Just under 2,900 people (0.7%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 1,300 in 2001 (1.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Swindon decreased by 5.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Swindon by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Long hour working fell in Swindon, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West, except Isles of Scilly and Mid Devon.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of people working long hours, as the regional average fell from 13% to 10%.

During this period, Swindon fell below Bristol, Exeter and Gloucester to become the South West local authority area with the fourth-lowest percentage of long hours workers.

In 2011, just over 1 in 12 (8.4%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Swindon said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 1.6% to 2.5%.

Long hour working in Swindon decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Swindon, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Swindon residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.7% to 4.6% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of Swindon residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Swindon decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Swindon, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Swindon residents that were self-employed increased from 6.2% to 7.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (61%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 63% in 2001. The percentage of Swindon residents that were unemployed increased from 2.5% to 4.2%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 10.0% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Swindon increased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Swindon, the South West and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

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